PC-24

Swiss single-engine turboprop aircraft manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft has completed the maiden flight of its PC-24 super versatile business jet.

The PC-24 prototype P01 with call sign HB-VXA took-off from Buochs airport, and flew from Altdorf to Brünig across central Switzerland for 55 minutes.

Pilatus said in a statement: "The flight went exactly as planned with no problems whatsoever."

During the flight, the aircraft climbed to 10,000ft in around three minutes, and the two pilots on-board carried out a series of tests, as well as evaluated the accuracy of the theoretical assumptions.

"The flight went exactly as planned with no problems whatsoever."

Pilatus Aircraft board of directors chairman Oscar Schwenk said: "It’s an emotional moment for sure, and another major milestone in the Pilatus and Swiss aviation history.

"Seeing our new business jet take off on its maiden flight is something we’ve worked very hard for, and dreamt about for a long time."

The PC-24 flight was monitored by a PC-21, flight test engineers from the ground for a stream of real-time flight data.

Pilatus will build three PC-24 prototypes to complete a test programme of around 2,300 hours over the next two years.

The company received 84 orders for PC-24 at last year’s European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (EBACE) event.

Pilatus expects the certification and initial deliveries of the first PC-24 to come off the production line from 2017.

Image: The PC-24 was flown from Altdorf to Brünig across central Switzerland for 55 minutes. Photo: © Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.